Electromechanical interlock



April 10, 1928. 1,665,526

I T.BRADYY ELECTRONE'CHANICAL INTERLOCK Filed March 2, 192.7 2 Sheets-Sheet l I l I I! 5 FIG. 2 55 I9 M M INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY April 10, 1928. 1,665,526

T. BRADY ELECTROMECHANICAL INTERLOCK Fi e March 1,927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 Pl I 52 \49 50 BY W ATTORNEY Patented A r. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT; orrlce.

THOMAS BRADY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 OTIS ELEVATOR COI- IANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

.ELECTROMECHANICAL m'rnnnock.

Application filed March 2, 1927. Serial No. 172,086.

This invention relates to electromechanical interlocks and particularly to electromechanical interlocks for elevator doors. H

One feature of the invention is to provid a device "of the above character that insures the holding open of the interlock switch, thereby preventing the operation of the elevator car, while the door is unlocked.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an interlock of the above character that is operated by the operating.

bar used to open and close the door.

A third feature of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the above character wherein the operation of the interlock switch is unaffected by the slamming of the door.

A fourth feature of the invention is to provide an interlock that is easily installed and operated and which occupies a minimum of hatchway space.

Still another feature of the invention is to provide an interlock that is of simple construction and positive and silent in operation.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawmgs wherein the invention is embodied in concrete form.

In the drawings v Figure 1 is a view'taken from within the hatchway 'of the electromechanical interlock applied to a hatchway door that is associated with a stationary hatchway part tion, the door being illustrated in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view with parts broken away taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrates the door in open position;

Figure 4; is a plan view of the electromechanical interlock applied to a hatchway door that 'is associated with a hinged hatchway partition, the 'door' being illustrated in open position; and i 1 Figure 5 is an enlarged view taken from within the hatchway'of a portion of the structure of Figure 4, and illustrates the door in closed position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the hatchway door 1 is supported upon a track 2 by means of hangers 3 having flanged rollers 4 that ride on the track 2. Track 2 is secured to a stationary hatchway partition 5. p A downwardly extending tongue 7 is formed on the bottom of the door 1 and extendsinto a groove provided in the sill 8. This groove guides the bottom of the door during its movement just as the track 2 guides the top of the door.

According to the preferred arrangement, three bearing brackets 8, 10 and 11 are secured to thedoor 1 as by screws 12. A tubular operating bar 13 extends through aligned bearing apertures provided in the bearing brackets 8,10 and 11 and is knurled at 14 for a portion of its length between the bearing brackets 8 and 10. Bearing brackets 8 and 10 are so positioned on the door 1 that the knurled portion 14 of the operating bar 13 is within convenient reach of the operator within the elevator car. Bearing brackets 8 and 10 are of the same construction, whereas bearing bracket 11 is made of such dimensions as to have a longer bearing aperture than the corresponding apertures of bearing brackets 8 and 10.

The shank 15 of a yoke member 18 extends into the upper end of operating bar 13. Operating bar 13 is secured to the shank 15 of yoke member 18 by rivets 17 extending through apertures provided in the operating bar and shank 15. The yoke member 18 is formed with two upwardly extending spaced lugs 19; A bolt 20 extends through aligned apertures provided in the lugs 19 and carries a roller 16. A compression spring 21 surrounds the upper end of the operating bar 13 and bears at one end against the yoke A horizontal link 23 extends between the lugs 19 of the yoke member 18 and rests upon this member. Link 23 has one end pivotally mounted on a rivet 24=that is carried by the bifurcated end of a link 25. The other end of the link 25 is also bifurcated and carries a rivet 26 that extends through a bearing aperture provided in a stationary horizontal rail 27. The other end of link 23 is piv0t= ally mounted on a rivet 28 that is carried by vthe bifurcated end of a lever 30. Lever 30 is formed with lugs 31 that extend downwardly on opposite sides of the rail 27. A rivet 32 extends through the lugs 31 and through a bearing aperture provided in the rail 27. Lever 30 is formed with a bifurcated arm 33. A rivet 34 is carried by the arm 33 and extends through an aperture provided in the end of a link 35. The

other end of link 35 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 37 to a switch bar 36 of an interlock switch 38. Switch bar 36 extends into the casing of the interlock switch 38. This switch bar is made of insulating material and has an U-shaped contact plate 40 secured to its inner end. Contact plate 40 is arranged to bridge stationary contacts 41 and 42. Contacts 41 and 42 of interlock switch 38 are included in'a control circuit for the elevator motor. While contact plate 40 is in engagement with contacts 41 and 42 the elevator'motor may be operated to move the elevator car along the hatchway. The casing of switch 38 is secured by screws to a bracket 43 which in turn is secured by screws to the rail 27 The rail 27 is attached by bolts to hangers 44 suspended from the hatchway Wall. 7

A saddle shaped stop member 45 extends over the opposite sides of rail 27 and is riveted to this rail. The door 1 is locked in its closed position by the-lugs 19 of yoke member 18 abutting against the stop member 45. The door cannot be opened until the operating bar 13 is moved downwardly to the ex tent of causing the lugs 19 to disengage the stop member 45.

Butlers 49 are secured to the door jamb and are arranged to cushion the door at the end of its closing movement. Similar buffers, not shown, are mounted in the hatchway' and are arranged to cushion the door at the end of its opening movement. v

The operation of the locking device is as follows:

Assume that the elevator car is at the floor illustrated in Figures -1 and 2 and that the operator desires to unlock and open the door. To unlock the 'door he graspsthe knurled portion 14 .of the operating bar and by overcoming the force of spring 21 moves this'bar together with yoke member 18 downwardly. As the yoke member 18 commences to move downwardly, the weight of the link 23 together with that of link 25 and lever 30 cause link 23 to move downwardly along with the yoke member. The link 25 and lever 30 turn about their pivotal supports on the rail 27 in a clockwise direction as link 23 moves downwardly. The distancebetween the rivets 24 and 26 is equal to the distance between rivets 28 and 32 and therefore, as link 23 moves downwardly it remains parallel to the rail 27. Should the link 23. for any reason as because of friction, fail to move downwardly under the influence of gravity, the roller 16 will strike this link and move it downwardly along with the yoke member 18. As lever 30 turns about its pivotal support on the rail 27 it acts through link 35 and the switch bar 36 to cause the contact plate 40 to slide from between the contacts 41 and 42 of interlock switch 38,

thereby opening the motor control circuit in which these contacts'are included. The separation of contact plate 40 from the contacts 41 and 42 takes place before the lugs 19 of yoke member 18 disengage the stop member 45 and hence before the door 1 is unlocked.

When the yoke member 18 has moved to such an extent as to cause lugs 19 to disen gage the stop member 45, the door ma be moved to its open position by means 0 the operating bar. During the opening movement of the door, the roller 16 of yoke member 18 rides along the rail 27 while the lugs 19 of this yoke member pass along opposite sides of the link 23. The tops of these lugs also pass along opposite sides of the rail 27.-

While the roller 16 carried by yoke member 18 is in engagement with rail 27, this yoke Figure 3.

If it is desired to close the door. the opera-' tor grasps the operating bar and moves the door to its closed position. Upon reaching the closed position. the roller 16 rides off the rail 27 and the spring 21 thereupon moves the yoke member 18 upwardly locking the door' and thereafter causing link 23 to effect the bridging of contacts 41 and 42 by contact plate40. The parts of the interlock device are now again in their positions illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. It is to'be noted that while the door is open it is impossible to close the motor control circuit in which contacts 41 and 42 are included.

The impact resulting from closing the door is absorbed by the buffers 49 and is not transmitted to the switch 38 which is closed by the action of the spring 21.

The interlock device has few operating parts and is extremely rugged in construction, thereby insuring satisfactory operation for a long period of time. Furthermore, the interlock is very compact and occupies but little hatchway space. It is to be noted that there is only one spring, namely compression spring 21 on the operating bar, in the entire Ill) tact plate 40 will not bridge contacts 41 and 42 and the car cannot be started.

In Figures 4 and 5 the hatchway door 50 is supported upon a track 51 by vmeans of hangers 52. Track 51 is secured to a hinged hatchway partition 53. Hatchway partition 53 comprises an overhanging portion 55 and a panel portion. 56. Panel portion 56 is attached by hinges 57 to the stationary hatchway wall 60. The use of a hinged hatchway partition permits a hatchway opening to be obtained, when desired, that is larger than that afl'orded by the door 50. A lock, such as the door-bolt 58, is secured to the overhanging portion 56 of the hatchway partition and is used to lock this partition while in its closed position to the hatchway wall 60.

The rail 61 is attached by bolts to hangers 62 suspended from the hatchway wall 60. The operating bar 63 is made detachable from its yoke member 64 in orderflto permit movement of the hatchway partition 53. A headed pin 65 has its shank 66 extending into the upper end of the operating bar 63. Operating bar 63 is secured to the shank 66 of the pin 65 by rivets 67 extending through apertures provided in the operating bar and shank 66. The head of pin 65-is dovetail in form and while the hinged hatchway partition 53 is closed this head of pin 65 extends into a dovetailed recess 70 provided in the yoke member 64. A. set screw 71 is'threadedthrough an aperture provided in the yoke member 64 and engages one of two opposite recesses 72 formed in the head of pin 65. A lock nut 73 retains the set screw 71 in position with respect to the yoke member 64. Set screw 71 secures the pin 65 to the yoke member 64.

With the hatchway partition 53 in. its closed position as illustrated in Figure 5 the hatchway door 50 and the electromechanical interlock are operated in the same manner that the corresponding parts were operated in connection with the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

When it is desired to obtain an opening that is larger than that aflorded by the door 50 the door-bolt 58 is unlocked and the set screw 71 is backed ofi" so as to disengage the head of pin 65. The door 50 and the hatch- .way partition 53 may now be swung as a whole about the hinges 57. 'As these members commence to move the head of pin 65 slides out of the recess 70 providedin the yoke member 64. The positions assumed by the various parts after the h-atchway partition 53 has moved to its full open position are illustrated in Figure 4. While the hatchway partition 53 is in this position the elevator car cannot be operated inasmuch as the interlocking switch is held open by the weight of the linkage connected to this switch as well as by the coaction between the roller of yoke member 64 and the rail 61 should this roller be under the rail as' illustrated in Figure 4.

By closing the hatchway partition 53, reinserting the head of pin 65 in the recess 7 0 provided in the yoke member 64 and locking these parts together by screw 71, the door 50 may again be operated just as if the hatchway partition 53 were stationary.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the 'above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall limiting sense.

Whatisclaimed is: v 1. An electromechanical interlock for hatchway doors provided with an operating bar comprising, stationary means, a switch, linkage connecting said stationary means to said switch, and a member connected to the operating bar, said member being biased to act. through said linkage tohold said switch in closed position and to cooperate with said stationary means to lock the door in its closed position.

2. An electromechanical interlock for hatchway doors provided with an operating bar comprising, stationary means, a switch, linkage connecting said stationary means to '85 be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a said switch and tending to hold said switch in its open position, and a member secured to the operating bar and arranged to actuate said linkageto cause the closing of the switch upon the door being moved'to closed position and locked by said member coactingwlth'the stationary means, said member be ng movable to cause the opening of the switch and then the unlocking of the door.

3. An electromechanical .interlock for hatchway doors provided with an operating bar comprising, a stop member, a switch, linkage connected to said switch, and a yoke member secured to the operating bar and associated with said linkage, said yoke memher being biased to act through said linkage to 'hold said switch in closed position and to engage said stop member to lock. the door in its closed position and also arranged to act through said linkage to cause the openand biasing said switchto open position, a

yoke member secured to the operating bar and associated with said linkage, said yoke member being biased to position said linkage so that the switch is held in closed position and also to engage said stop member to lock the door in its closed position.

5. An electromechanical interlock for hatchway doors provided with an operating bar comprising, a switch, a stationary rail, a lever pivoted on one end of said rail and operatively connected to said switch, a link pivoted on the other end of said rail, a second link extending parallel to said rail, one end of said second link being connected to said first link and the other end of said second link being connected to said lever, and means connected to the operating bar and arranged, with the door closed, to cooperate with said rail to lock the door and to cooperate with said second link to cause the switch to be held in its closed position.

6. An electromechanical interlock for hatchway doors provided with an operating bar comprising, a switch, a stationary rail, a link extendingparallel to said rail, a lever pivoted on one end of said rail and operatively connected to said switch, a second link pivoted on the other end of said rail and connected to one end of the first named link, the other end of said first named link being connected to said lever, and means connectedto the operating bar and arranged, withthe door closed, to permit said first link to move and effect the opening of the switch whereupon said means unlocks the door and allows the opening thereof, said means acting upon the closing of the door to loclrthe door and thereafter effect the closing of the switch through actuation of the firstlink. I

7. An electromechanical interlock for hatchway doors comprising, a switch, a stationary rail, linkage connected to said switch and to said rail, and means arranged to cooperate with said linkage and said rail so as to cause either the locking of said door ber cooperating with said rail to lock or' unlock the door and cooperating with said linkage to cause the switch to operate before the unlocking of the door and to be restored to its normal condition after the locking of the door.

9. In an electromechanical interlock for hatchway doors, a switch, a stationary rail, a lever pivoted on one end of said rail and connected to said switch, a link pivoted on the other end of said rail, a second link pivotally connected to said first link and to said lever so that as these members turn as a. whole about the rail the second link remains parallel to the rail, a roller positioned between said second link and said rail and arrang'edto roll on said rail as the door is operated, and a yoke supporting said roller, said yoke being arranged to cooperate with said rail'so as to lock or unlock the door and to cooperate with said second link so as to cause the closing or permit the open ing of the switch,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. 1

I THOMAS BRApY. 

